Norway reached an important milestone last Wednesday, January 28 in its transition to low- and zero-emission aviation with the completion of its first electric aviation test project, conducted as an international test arena.
After roughly six months of operational testing, Bristow pilot Jeremy Degagne landed the BETA Technologies ALIA aircraft in Stavanger, bringing the project to a close and delivering valuable real-world experience in electric aircraft operations, infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks.
The project has demonstrated how new aviation technologies can be introduced safely and gradually into a highly regulated environment, and how close cooperation among authorities, airports, operators, and technology providers is essential to a successful transition.
"As the national airport operator, Avinor has a clear responsibility to prepare our infrastructure for the next generation of aviation. Through this project, we have gained concrete experience that will guide how we develop airports and charging infrastructure and provide operators with a stronger basis for assessing the future commercial viability of routes based on new technologies. We will now build on these lessons in the next phase of our test and development projects," said Karianne Helland Strand, Executive Vice President for Sustainability and Infrastructure, Avinor.
Over a six-months period, the aircraft performed regular test flights on a cargo route between Stavanger and Bergen. Airports, air traffic control and regulators gained hands-on experience with charging infrastructure, winter operations, new procedures and future training needs.
For the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority, being part of this first of a kind demonstration programme has been a rewarding experience on several levels.
"We have established a first version of a Regulatory Sandbox and are able to evaluate how the different safety regulations work in the context of this new technological concept. We are also maturing our safety methodology to be more fit for purpose for an innovation setting and can broaden our competency on these technologies in the process. Another significant result of the programme is how we are developing insights and knowledge in collaboration – building on a much-appreciated level of trust between professional partners", said Jan Petter Steinland, Director Strategic Analysis & Transformation.
Close and continuous dialogue with air traffic control was a key factor in the project's success. Feedback from controllers indicates the aircraft could be integrated into existing airspace with limited additional workload, reinforcing that innovation and safety can go hand in hand.
The test project has been met with strong interest and optimism both in Norway and internationally. Together, the partners now bring valuable experience into the next phase of advanced air mobility development, where technology, regulation, infrastructure and market potential must advance in parallel.
The electric aviation test project was carried out in cooperation between Bristow, BETA Technologies, Avinor, and CAA Norway. It is the first project conducted under Norway's international test arena, which was established by Avinor and CAA Norway in April 2024 to accelerate the introduction of new technologies in Norwegian aviation.
Facts
Number of flights - 126
Total distance flown - 8748 nautical miles (16201 km)
Kilowatt-hours charged - 12 MWh